Political Science Career Resources
Explore career development resources, job search tools, and other resources for graduates of Brooklyn College’s M.A. in Political Science program.
Internships
All M.A. students are encouraged to apply for an internship with an international organization. These internships provide hands-on experience, valuable career contacts, and a chance to examine an international policy up close.
Applications for internships are submitted directly to the organization, and the department can help with finding an appropriate internship and crafting a strong application. When you are selected for an internship, the internship director writes a letter describing your schedule and responsibilities, and you may then register for the international internship course, POLS 7950.
In addition to your work at the organization, which normally consists of one full day a week for the course of a semester, you write a 20- to 25-page policy paper assessing an issue on which you work during your internship.
You may also create your own internship with an organization not listed here. Many students, for example, have worked for local refugee organizations or media outlets. We particularly encourage international internships abroad, which can be done in conjunction with study abroad programs.
Visit Magner Career Center to learn more about paid internship opportunities.
Employment Resources
Search Engines
- Idealist
- State Department
- Foreign Policy Association: an overview of all the different job opportunities within the Foreign Service
The American Political Science Association
APSA’s eJobs is a year-round, online resource for political science employment opportunities and job candidates. It contains the most comprehensive online listing of political science jobs, is updated daily with new job listings and candidate resumes, and is fully searchable by field of interest, name of employer/candidate, region, keyword, position, salary, type of institution, and most recent postings.
The World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends.
IREX
Visit the IREX careers website.
The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) is an international nonprofit organization providing thought leadership and innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally. We enable local individuals and institutions to build key elements of a vibrant society: quality education, independent media, and strong communities. To strengthen these sectors, our program activities also include conflict resolution, technology for development, women, and youth.
Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of more than $60 million and a staff of over 400 professionals worldwide. IREX employs field-tested methods and innovative uses of technologies to develop practical and locally driven solutions with our partners in more than 100 countries.
Program Associate, American Academy of Arts & Sciences
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, an international learned society and policy research center with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, seeks a program associate to support its Initiative for Humanities and Culture and associated research initiatives. This is a unique opportunity for a highly motivated individual to play a key role in advancing multidisciplinary projects and studies with some of the country’s leading humanities scholars. The program associate may also work on other projects. The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in the humanities; three to five years of relevant project administration experience in a university, foundation, learned society, or nonprofit; experience working with senior faculty; knowledge of policy issues in the humanities; strong writing, editing, research, and communication skills; successful grant writing expertise and familiarity with private foundations and other funding sources; and an ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a team environment.
International Opportunities
Below is a list of international organizations with internships.
Tow International Research
The Tow Undergraduate/Graduate Research Stipend enables undergraduate and graduate students to conduct research in setting outside the United States during the winter intersession. It is designed to students’ academic experiences and to enrich their lives and that of the college by participating in educational opportunities abroad.
AIFS ABROAD
AIFS Abroad, long-standing provider of international internships for university students and recent graduates, consults universities and colleges on the design and development of customized programs.
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations Volunteer Internship Program offers an exceptional opportunity for talented individuals who are considering a career in international relations. Our volunteer interns have the chance to interact with experts, scholars, and young, upcoming leaders in the foreign policy field.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is a nonprofit, nongovernmental human rights organization made up of roughly 400 staff members around the globe. Its staff consists of human rights professionals, including country experts, lawyers, journalists, and academics of diverse backgrounds and nationalities. Established in 1978, Human Rights Watch is known for its accurate fact-finding, impartial reporting, effective use of media, and targeted advocacy, often in partnership with local human rights groups. Each year, Human Rights Watch publishes more than 100 reports and briefings on human rights conditions in some 90 countries, generating extensive coverage in local and international media. With the leverage this brings, Human Rights Watch meets with governments, the United Nations, regional groups like the African Union and the European Union, financial institutions, and corporations to press for changes in policy and practice that promote human rights and justice around the world.
Amnesty International USA
Amnesty International USA is the global organization’s presence in the United States. We engage people in the United States to fight injustice all around the world, while we also work to protect people’s human rights here in the United States.
Synergos
Synergos works to reduce global poverty by creating, promoting, and sustaining trust and collaboration among business, government, civil society, and marginalized communities. Our programs operate in 15 countries, tackling issues in which deeper trust and coordinated, aligned action by diverse stakeholders can provide opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive.
Summer Human Rights Institute
The Summer Human Rights Institute (SHRI) is a two-week certificate program offering a comprehensive introduction to the theory and application of human rights law. The institute provides an overview of international law, as well as focused human rights subject lectures, workshops, and fieldwork, with Fordham Law faculty and attorneys in public and private practice in New York. Suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as advanced professionals, SHRI is open to participants from around the world. All courses and activities are conducted in English—no language assessment is required—and SHRI will work with participants to secure necessary visas and other arrangements, as needed.
Seeds of Peace
Seeds of Peace is looking for full-time and part-time interns to work with the development, communications, programming, finance, and administration departments of the organization.
GoEco
GoEco was created by experienced volunteers for people who are eager to travel and contribute to the communities, wildlife, and environments they visit. GoEco offers a selection of excellent yet affordable volunteer opportunities for ecologically and socially conscious travelers in more than 30 countries.
United Nations and Unicef
United Nations
The objective of the internship is to give you a first-hand impression of the day-to-day working environment of the United Nations. You will be given a real chance to work with our people. As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals and senior management, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to analytical work as well as organizational policy of the United Nations. Initially you will take on the amount of responsibility you can shoulder; the potential for growth, however, is yours to develop.
UNICEF
The UNICEF Internship Programme offers eligible students the opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF’s work. UNICEF is active in various functional areas related to its mandate, which can be categorized in three main pillars: Programme and Policy, External Relations, and Operations.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
The purpose of the Internship and Traineeship Programmes at UNITAR is to provide a framework by which individuals from diverse academic backgrounds may be assigned to UNITAR Programmes where their educational experience and skills can be enhanced through practical work assignments while they provide the institute with their assistance as qualified individuals specialized in various professional fields.